1. Warm-up: Feb. 20
Label the image on your own sheet.

2. Powers and Structure of the Dual (federal and state) Court System

3. I. Jurisdiction of the Courts
A. The US has a dual court system of state and federal courts
B. State courts have jurisdiction (authority) over cases involving state laws
C. Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving US laws, foreign treaties and the interpretation of the Constitution
D. In some cases, federal and state courts have concurrent jurisdiction
E. In the federal court system, trial courts are district courts that have original jurisdiction; federal courts of appeals have only appellate jurisdiction (authority to hear cases appealed from district courts)

4. Structure of Federal Courts

5. Structure of Maryland State Courts

6. Powers of the Federal Courts
A. The federal district courts were created by Congress as trial courts for both civil and criminal cases
B. In criminal cases, there are two types of juries: a grand jury, which hears charges against a person accused of a crime, and a petit jury, or trial jury, which weighs the evidence presented at trial
C. District courts carry the main burden in federal courts
D. In the vast majority of cases, district courts render the final decision
E. The 13 courts of appeals ease the appellate workload of the Supreme Court
G. The courts of appeals may decide to uphold the original decision, reverse the decision, or send the case back to the original court to be tried again

7. II. Jurisdiction in State and Federal Courts
Cases Heard in State Courts
Cases Heard in Federal Courts
Cases Heard in Both State and Federal Courts
-Crimes punishable under state law
-Traffic violations
-Divorce and child custody disputes
-Most contract disputes
-Most personal injury lawsuits
-Most workers’ injury claims
-Inheritance matters
-Most issues involving regulation of trades and professions
-Matters involving interstate and international commerce
-Disputes involving federal taxes or federal programs like Social Security
-Patent and copyright issues
-Issues involving treaties and foreign countries
-Disputes involving citizens of other countries
-Bankruptcy matters
-Disputes between states
-Habeas Corpus actions
-Crimes punishable under both state and federal laws
-Environmental regulations
-Certain civil rights claims
-Civil actions involving large groups of people seeking damages (class action lawsuit)
-Issues involving the US Constitution